Wintersong 1, 2024

21-23 June 2024
Rachel Hore and Stephen Taberner
with Suze Pratten

Wintersong 2, 2024

5-7 July 2024 
Rachel Hore and Moira Smiley

 

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN

Wintersong 1 is now FULLY BOOKED.

You can find a Waiting List form on the booking page. Click the button below.

Youth Scholarships are still available for Wintersong 1 and Wintersong 2

About Wintersong

Wintersong is a fabulous annual choral weekend led by Rachel Hore and Stephen Taberner for the past 25 years in the Blue Mountains, NSW.

Two weekends to choose from, held at the Brahma Kumaris Centre, Leura, Blue Mountains, NSW.

Learn wonderful new choral arrangements, and explore the beautiful power of singing amongst 100 other singers. The Brahma Kumaris retreat centre provides a gorgeous backdrop of cosy fires, vegetarian food, misty walks through ghost gums and fabulous hospitality.

Experienced singers and beginners all welcome. Youth Scholarships available. Choose from residential or non-residential accommodation options.

Special Guest Co-Tutor 2024

Wintersong 2

Moira Smiley

Stephen Taberner will be travelling with the Spooky Men’s Chorale in July this year, so Moira Smiley (USA) is stepping in to co-teach with Rachel at Wintersong 2.

Moira will bring her incredible skill and knowledge of the voice to Wintersong, as well as her original songs and arrangements.  Moira has a wonderful ability to help us explore and develop the many different timbres and sounds of our voices. She sings in a tradition steeped in Anglo/Celtic, Appalachian and world music folk sounds. Moira will lead a vocal masterclass elective, as well as bringing some easy body percussion, improv, great vocal warmups and new songs to our Wintersong 2 weekend.

Extra performances and workshops

While she’s in Australia, Moira will present some extra performances and workshops. Moira is an extraordinary singer and this is a rare opportunity to hear and learn from her during her short trip in July.  More info here >

Wintersong 1 – Guest Elective Tutor – Suze Pratten

Guest elective tutor at Wintersong 1 is Suze Pratten. Suze will offer a Taketina elective. Developed in the 1970s by the Austrian musician and composer Reinhard Flatischler, Taketina is a wonderful process of listening, stepping and clapping that supports the development of your awareness of rhythm and pulse.

Our Venue

The Brahma Kumaris retreat centre in Leura, NSW, is set in beautiful bushland that includes established Mountain gardens, a lovely creek, singing hall with central heating and dining room with roaring fire. Accommodation is twin or triple share (singles) with own bathroom (reserved with your booking). Meals are all vegetarian at Brahma Kumaris. Please note that no alcohol, smoking or drugs are permitted on the site.

The Program

Registration is from 4pm on Friday evening. Each day starts at 9am with a series of singing sessions. There is time for electives, free time and a concert on Saturday night. Wintersong finishes at 3pm on Sunday.

Wintersong 2024 prices

Residential* (includes all meals)
Full – $595
Conc – $540
Youth (under 21) – $345

Non-residential (includes lunch and dinner only)
Full – $510
Conc – $455
Youth (under 21) – $215

(*Twin or triple share (singles) with ensuite bathroom. Due to the demand for places at Wintersong we are not able to offer single rooms.)

A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required to secure your place. Balance payments are due by Friday 24 May 2024 (for Wintersong 1) and Friday 31 May 2024 (for Wintersong 2).

Youth Scholarships

We have 8 Youth Scholarship places available for young people (26 and under) who need financial assistance to attend Wintersong. Tell us about yourself, your musical interests and why you’d like assistance.

Youth Scholarship applications close Friday 17 May 2024. Scholarships will be decided by Friday 24 May 2024 and applicants will be contacted by email.

Balance Payments

If you have already paid your deposit and would like to make a further payment, please go to the Balance Payment notification form and select your preferred payment option. Bank details for EFT payments are provided and credit card/PayPal payments can be made using that form.

Balance payments are due by Friday 24 May 2024 (for Wintersong 1) and Friday 31 May 2024 (for Wintersong 2).  

Cancellations and Refunds

Deposits are non-refundable. Please notify us AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you cannot attend Wintersong.  Cancellation between 24 May and 20 June 2024 (Wintersong 1) or between 31 May and 4 July (Wintersong 2) incurs a cancellation fee of 50% of the balance paid IF WE CANNOT FILL YOUR PLACE FROM THE WAITLIST. No refunds for cancellations or no-shows on the day of the event.

Enquiries

Contact: Jodie Lee
Email: jodie@rachelhore.com
M: 0415 885 335

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People said:

“I could not wipe the smile from my face all weekend as I felt challenged, uplifted, educated, empowered and embraced by the beauty of the magic you wove into the 100 plus participants at Wintersong.”

Helene NSW

“Thank you so much for an incredible and life-shifting experience. That was one of the best weekends of my adult life (I hope that’s not too daggy to say out loud) The safe-yet-challenging space you both (along with your support crew) adeptly provide to enable vocal wonderment during this weekend is something that’s pretty unique in this country.”

Kirsten

“Wonderful music, teaching, people, place/food and fun. I loved being there and I particularly loved all the songs you taught us. You continue to inspire, give me hope and open my heart.”

Judy NSW

See more of what people said here.

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Future dates TBA
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